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Pennsylvania open records office reports record-high number of appeals

Daily Record/Sunday News

Updated:
03/20/2014 03:59:54 PM EDT

Pennsylvania's Office of Open Records said that in 2013 it handled a record-high number of appeals that challenged denials of public records requests -- and the office reported that almost half of those appeals were filed by citizens.

There are still "barriers and hurdles" to open government in Pennsylvania, said the officer's director, Terry Mutchler, but the 5-year-old law has been a "huge triumph for transparency."

"The law works," she said. "It has improved and continues to improve our government."

The office said in its annual report, released Thursday, that 2,478 appeals were filed, 48.7 of which were from citizens seeking information from public agencies. Inmates accounted for 41 pecent of the appeals; companies, 5 percent; and media, 4 percent.

Most appeals (788) were dismissed. The office denied 713 and granted or partially granted 344.

Mutchler said some changes to the law are needed, and noted that legislators are considering amendments to the law.

"...citizens have a unique opportunity to provide input and help shape a law that affects every aspect of their day to day lives," she said. "The key to continued success is identifying the problems and changing. Government serves people best when open and transparent, but it will allow only as much access as the people require."